By David Weinberg
The Eagles head into Sunday’s playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on quite a roll.
They earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC – Detroit is the top seed – with an impressive regular-season performance that saw them tie the franchise mark for wins in a season.
Their 14-3 record matched their record in 2022, when they advanced all the way to the Super Bowl for just the fourth time in team history, and a team-record 10-game winning streak.
As they get ready to face the Packers in an attempt to reach the Super Bowl again, here’s a look back at some of the plays and players who have helped make this such a special season to date.
BEST GAME: Eagles 24, Ravens 19 (Dec. 1, 2024). This is probably their biggest win since it came on the road and against a Ravens’ team that’s considered a top AFC playoff contender. Running back Saquon Barkley ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and the defense kept Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in check.
WORST GAME: Buccaneers 33, Eagles 16 (September 29, 2024). This was an embarrassing effort that dropped their record to 2-2 and had fans questioning the team’s potential. Tampa jumped to a 24-0 lead and was never threatened. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 347 yards and two TDs and also ran for a score.
BEST PLAY (Offense): Barkley delivered a jaw-dropping move against Jacksonville on November 9 when with his backwards hurdle over a Jaguars defender. The video went viral and emerged as one of the league’s top plays of the year.
WORST PLAY (Offense): Barkley had a marvelous season, but did have one crucial mistake. The Eagles were in position to beat Atlanta on September 22, but his crucial drop on a pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts opened the door for the Falcons to stage a rally.
BEST PLAY (Defense): Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson made amends for getting ejected in the previous game by returning an interception 69 yards for a touchdown against Dallas on December 29, 2024. It was the Eagles’ only defensive touchdown of the regular season.
WORST PLAY (Defense): Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love hit wide receiver Jayden Reed for a 70-yard touchdown against the Eagles in the season-opener in Brazil on September 6.
BEST PLAY (Special teams): The Eagles pulled off a rare play against the Buccaneers when Isaiah Rodgers blocked an extra point attempt by Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin. Kelee Ringo scooped up the ball in stride and sprinted 60 yards to the opposite end zone for a defensive two-point conversion.
WORST PLAY (Special teams): Cleveland defensive end Miles Garrett leapt over the line of scrimmage to block Jake Elliott’s 57-yard field goal attempt on October 13. Ex-Eagles safety Rodney McLeod grabbed the ball and raced 50 yards for a Browns TD.
BEST SINGLE-GAME PERFORMANCE (Offense): Barkley rushed for 255 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams on November 24. That set the franchise record for most rushing yards in a game LeSean McCoy held the old record of 217 yards against Detroit in 2013.
BEST SINGLE-GAME PERFORMANCE (Defense): Gardner-Johnson led the team with six interceptions this season, including two against the Cowboys on December 29.
UNLUCKIEST PLAYER: Veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who registered a key sack against Tom Brady in Super Bowl LVII, won’t get a chance to play in the big game again after suffering a torn triceps against the Rams.
BEST OFFSEASON PICKUP: The Eagles were hoping Barkley would play a key role in the offense after signing him from the Giants. He’s emerged as an NFL Most Valuable Player candidate while rushing for 2,005 yards. Honorable mention: Linebacker Zack Baun, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
WORST OFFSEASON PICKUP: They signed free-agent ed rusher Bryce Huff on March 13, the same day they signed Barkley, in hopes he would replace Haason Reddick. Huff has been a major disappointment with 2.5 sacks as a backup.
BEST OPPONENT (Offense): Mayfield gets the nod for his performance against the Eagles. He completed 30 of 47 passes for 347 yards and two TDs and also ran for one.
BEST OPPONENT (Defense): Mayfield’s teammate, linebacker Lavonte David, played a major role in the Bucs’ win with two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
TURNING POINT: A lackluster win over the Browns at the Linc left fans disillusioned and frustrated to the point where Sirianni was jawing with people in the stands after a HOME game. The Eagles responded with back-to-back road wins at the New York Giants and Cincinnati to regain their confidence.
Packers-Eagles reunion
Sunday’s playoff game marks the second meeting this season between the Eagles and Packers.
The Packers led the season-opener 26-24 before the Eagles took the lead for good on Barkley’s 2-yard TD – one of his three touchdowns on the day – in the third quarter to give the Eagles the lead for good during a 34-29 win.
This marks the fourth time the Eagles and Packers have met in the playoffs. The Eagles hold a 2-1 edge. The last time they met in the postseason was on January 11, 2011, when Aaron Rodgers threw three TD passes in a 21-16 win en route to winning the Super Bowl.
The Eagles’ famous “4th and 26” play came against the Packers on January 11, 2004. Trailing 17-14, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb found wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for a 26-yard gain that led to place-kicker David Akers’ game-tying field goal.
In overtime, safety Brian Dawkins intercepted Packers quarterback Brett Favre to set up Akers’ game-winning field goal and a 20-17 win.
The Eagles lost 14-3 to Carolina at the Linc the following week in the NFC championship game. Cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. had three interceptions for the Panthers.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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